So someone sends me an email with a link to some supposedly heralded "Cuban-American' writer's blog post where she is basically ripping the Miami herald to shreds because the paper refuses to give her any press about her upcoming book. Yawn. Ho hum. Who cares. The last thing I want to read is some "artiste" whining about the unfairness of life and bitching and moaning about this person or that person and how that person hates him or her and all that. I havent read anything like that since we passed notes in junior high school.

But the "writer' made a few comments that kinda stuck with me. First, she calls herself a liberal "Cuban-American" which is fine and dandy. Then she takes a jab at us intolerent, and dare I say, intransigent Miami "Cubanos." Par for the course, I suppose. If I had a dime for every time I've heard that Id be blogging from a penthouse on South Beach.

Continue reading La Reina Comemierda

Apparently the Bearded Stooge and his goons had it with the Czech solidarity to Human Rights movements in the island, their continued support for the release of political prisoners, their support of Las Damas de Blanco and of course, who can forget Helena's picture incident where the top model was jailed for taking pictures of Cuba's slums. Therefore, they decided that the best solutionit was to kick out the Czech diplomat...

Cuba deports Czech diplomat, Prague protests-ministry
Prague- The Czech Foreign Ministry announced today that Cuba had deported a Czech diplomat. Cuban authorities did not extend the diplomat's visa that will expire this Friday, and declined to give reasons for their move, the Foreign Ministry told CTK.

According to the ministry, the first secretary of the Czech embassy in Havana is to leave Cuba within 72 hours.

Czech diplomats perceive the denial of a visa as an act of deportation, they are protesting against it and have immediately summoned Cuban charge d'affaires in Prague Aymee Hernandez for an explanation.

"Cuba is undoubtedly reacting to the Czech foreign policy which constantly criticises human rights abuses in Cuba and supports the Cuban opposition," the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry views this unusual conduct as an "evident effort at escalating the tension in relations between the Czech Republic and Cuba."

The Czech diplomacy has made it clear that it intends to deport one of the Cuban diplomats working in Prague as a reciprocal step.

"The Czech Republic will take a reciprocal measure," the ministry said.

The case of the Czech diplomat is another in a series of rifts in relations between Prague and Havana. In February, Hernandez gave the Czech foreign minister a note of protest in which she complained about the tender the Foreign Ministry put up in support of projects of non-governmental organisations for this year.

According to the Cuban embassy, the grants also included support to the opponents of the Cuban regime.

We'd go every Sunday during the summer, but there was a week in August when my Aunt and Godfather would come down from New Jersey that we would go every single day. El Farito. The small lighthouse at Bill Baggs Florida state park in Key Biscayne. I learned how to fish there next to my Padrino who is the family's most avid fisherman.

We'd while away the hours standing there on the sea wall, fishing rods in hand, the ocean breeze tickling our skin. Sun shining. Fingers smelling of bait. All we ever caught were Roncos. Grunts.

Man, I love fishing.

Ive got to thank Mike Pancier for these beautiful memories Ive conjured up today. He has just started Pancier's Photo Blog and the most recent post is a gem about El Farito. If you grew up here in Miami, then you know all about El Farito.

Either way, take a quick trip to the old days of El Farito with Mike. You'll wish you were 5 again.

Alfredo at El Cubano Cafe posted about a video he saw while channel surfing the other day. The song is called Matanzero and the band is called Guajiro. The guitarist is a good friend of mine. I hadn't thought of giving him a plug but Alfredo's post reminded me to. Check out the video here. Even if you don't like punk rock you are going to like this.

UPDATE: The song was written by a Marielito who came when he was 6 years old. Lyrics below.

Cuando era niño
Antes de haber conocido
Ya me habia ido

Un Nuevo mundo tan extraño
Mi viejos, unica familia
Ya esto no es Vida

Matanzero Soy!
No se adonde Estoy!
Yo no quiero esta vida
Y ya pronto yo me voy!

Voces del otro lado
No temes nunca una muerte orgullosa
Estamos en el mismo bote

En el pais de la oportunidad
Nada es completamente la verdad
Prefiero libertad!

Matanzero Soy!
Pronto voy a ir!
Con un machete y el sol
En mi frente,
Murir por la Patria es vivir!

Libertad!
Libertad!
Libertad!
Libertad!

Would you wear this:

The Miami Herald has a great article in today's Sports Section about two University of Miami baseball players whose families both exiled from Cuba when they were kids. It is today's must read.

The following quote sums it all up quite succinctly:

''I thank God every day,'' Ylya said. ``We had food in Cuba, but no freedom.''

Back in January of 2004 I reported on the play "Rum and Coke" by Carmen Pelaez that the wife and I had the pleasure of attending at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Throughout the years Ive attended many great plays, some about Cuba and Cuban-Americans, at the Playhouse. It's one of the very few venues in Miami that always offers quality acts with famous actors and great casts.

Theyre scheduled to present a play called Sonia Flew, the story of a Pedro Pan kid, starting May 9th starring Lucie Arnaz. Unfortunately, the Playhouse may close its dooors before opening night. Via email:

In Miami, the Coconut Grove Playhouse, which has a valued national reputation and has been a great source of pride for South Florida theatre goers and our show business community for 50 years is now in severe danger of having to close its doors immediately unless some basic financial assistance can be found to see us through the end of this season in the middle of May.

For the past four years, I have had the opportunity to perform at the beautiful and legendary Coconut Grove Playhouse, but no previous performance has offered me greater privilege than Sonia Flew, an amazing story of the Pedro Pan movement and the personal impact it had on the thousands of families who took this extraordinary step in the interest of their children’s welfare. The following is a synopsis of this extraordinary work.

Sonia Flew

Inspired by the exodus of more than 14,000 Cuban children who found themselves separated from their parents to escape Fidel Castro in what became known in the 1960s as the years of the "Pedro Pan" movement, Sonia Flew recalls the impact of those years on a Pedro Pan who has now reached maturity and the effect the separation had on her life.

Faced with the thought of losing her own child to war in post 9/11 America, Sonia, played by Lucie Arnaz, must come to terms with her past, her family's present and her son's future.

The hit of last year's Boston theatrical season, author Melinda Lopez has done it again with her dramatic interpretation of a family's struggle between love and separation.

Sonia Flew was conceived by a brilliant new playwright, Melinda Lopez, and we are scheduled to open on April 18th. However, due to the ongoing realities of the non-profit arts funding world, a half million dollar cutback in State funding and the terrible losses incurred from our last hurricane season, on this our Golden Anniversary, the historic Playhouse finds itself in the unthinkable position of possibly not being able to continue funding its productions, its operations or its obligations. This means, Sonia Flew, which is already in its third and final week of rehearsal might never open.

This is a major financial crisis for the Coconut Grove Playhouse. We desperately need your help and we need it fast. The good news is some friends of the Playhouse and supporters of the valuable work Producing Artistic Director, Arnold Mittelman has created have already stepped forward. Facundo Bacardi, through Bacardi USA has just made a major sponsorship contribution. I, too, am contributing personally because I truly believe in this celebration of our Latin heritage and am totally committed to helping tell this story. I need you to match our commitment, I am attaching a list of sponsorship opportunities for your consideration.

During the research I have done for my role in this play, I have come to learn more about my own heritage and that of my father and my Cuban family and my pride has grown with each new piece of information that I’ve learned. My journey into the Pedro Pan story culminated this past weekend when I spent Friday night with Elly Chovel and a group of Pedro Pans who told me their own personal stories. To say that I was transformed by their experiences would be an understatement. What can be said with absolute certainty is that this is a story that must be told.

I am writing this now to urge you to please consider joining us in this cause. I am asking for the opportunity to have either Arnold Mittelman or myself speak with you – in person or by phone - to discuss your willingness to provide some immediate and “lifesaving” financial support for this important piece. In doing so, you will be honoring the Pedro Pans, their families and the foster families who made these great sacrifices that brought each of us to where we are today. We have a very short time to find the funds needed to survive, I hope you will find the time for us at your earliest convenience. Please contact Jeff Koenreich at 305.442.2662 ext 183 to advise us of your willingness to help.

On behalf of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, my family, our shared Cuban heritage, and most importantly, the thousands of Pedro Pans, I offer my thanks in advance for your consideration of this request and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.

Sincerely,

Lucie Arnaz

Help save the Playhouse, and Sonia Flew if you can. Please lend them your support.

Update: I forgot to add the support link. If you're interested in helping out, click here.